AIRBUS PARTNERSHIP WITH TENZING TO BRING EMAIL TO PASSENGERS

Airbus and Tenzing Communications Inc of the USA have launched a strategic partnership to offer in-flight email and Internet access to airline passengers, in the first widespread operational service of its kind.

As part of the partnership, Airbus is acquiring a 30 per cent share in the company, under a deal concluded earlier this month, which values the company at about US$148 million. Tenzing thus becomes Airbus’ preferred supplier for in-flight email and Internet solutions, which are an ideal component of Airbus in-flight information services (AFIS).

The ability to send and receive emails in flight is highly valued in today’s increasingly connected world, particularly among frequent business travellers on long-haul flights across multiple time zones. Coverage with the Tenzing technology is genuinely global, allowing its use anywhere. Email is especially attractive because, just as in the office, passengers can be selective about which messages to read or send, as well as when they do so.

Tenzing’s contribution includes proprietary software that runs on a computer server in the aircraft, enabling passengers to send and retrieve email via their own laptop computers. Tenzing is currently the only company capable of providing email and access to internet sites aboard airliners, through a technology that makes use of existing L-band air-to-ground satellite links. Its solution is capable of evolving to make use of broadband (Ku-band), once it becomes available and economically acceptable.

Passengers will typically connect via existing in-seat entertainment units, on-board telephones or local area network (LAN), while the satellite communication links that already equip most long-haul Airbus aircraft will provide the air-to-ground connection.

The service will be practicable and affordable to all with, for example, passengers on flights in North America paying a $4.95 fee for unlimited access, throughout their flight, to the titles and senders of their emails. Passengers would pay another 50 cents or so to read, or send, each page of text. They will, in addition, have free access to a collection of Internet sites that are the most useful and most often requested by frequent travellers. As always, it will be up to airlines how they market the service.

Tenzing has already successfully concluded several in-flight airline trials of its email and Internet service, including one of more than six months with Air Canada. It has also signed up several leading customers - including Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways, all three of which will begin equipping their aircraft later this year.

“Innovation has been the key to our growth, just like Airbus with modern airliners, and we are very excited about growing our businesses together,” says Tenzing Chief Executive Officer David Lowe. “We have built our success on being a connectivity solutions provider and, together with Airbus’ strong presence in the airliner market, have a winning combination.”

“Tenzing is the industry leader for in-flight email and Internet access, with a proven solution that is available now, worldwide in coverage, affordable and easy to install, making it the ideal partner to take passenger service to new heights,” says Airbus Executive Vice President Customer Affairs, John Leahy.

The Tenzing solution can be fitted to all Airbus aircraft – either in production or as a retrofit to those in service. Installations in an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) and an A340-600 will happen in the next few months, with retrofitting of airline A330/A340s due to begin in the autumn.

Installation of the equipment is straightforward, taking hours rather than days which, together with the minor changes that are required to the aircraft, make it both economical and easy to fit.